Joyce Kelley of Eastport Dies June 11

Joyce Warner was born on March 16, 1932, at Southampton Hospital in Southampton, New York, the seventh child of Daniel Dudley Warner and Edith Victoria Dixon Warner. She died at Stony Brook Hospital on June 11th, 2025 after a brief illness. Her father was a graduate of Columbia University and founding President of the Long Island Duck Growers Cooperative. Her mother was the daughter of Canadian immigrants who came to New York City as entrepreneurs. Her father was killed in a vehicle accident when Joyce was seven months old. She was raised by her mother with help from Joyce’s six siblings and her grandparents, especially her paternal grandfather Eugene Goldsmith Warner.

Joyce graduated from Eastport High School, where she was valedictorian. After graduation she married Maurice Eugene Kelley, Jr. and worked as the secretary for the Principal until the birth of her first child, Todd. She bore two more children, Gordon and Beth. The family resided on Seatuck Avenue in Eastport. She was an active member of the Eastport Bible Church. She was also a committed volunteer for over fifty years in supporting families through the Salvation Army.

She held numerous positions but gravitated toward health positions. When her employer, John M. Rogers, M.D. died unexpectedly, she decided to attend nursing school and graduated at age 59 and worked as a nurse at Southampton Hospital. She retired in 2006 to care full time for her husband who was in poor health. After he died in 2007, Joyce volunteered to be a medical missionary in Tanzania Africa with Village Schools International. She lived in a remote hut while attending to the medical needs of the local village.

Joyce was an avid tennis player and had a court built behind her home for her and her tennis friends. She enjoyed going to the beach and often went across the bay in her small boat to the ocean. She always had time for her grandchildren and would take them with her.

Joyce was able to reside in her home for 75 years until her death due to the daily visits from her son Gordon and assistance from daughter Beth Daqui, who is also a nurse. She is survived by her three children, her first Cousin Alice Gordon of Islip, seven grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. A memorial service will take place at a future date.